Marvel is coming off a packed year of releases in 2021 and is already moving full steam ahead towards its next slate of projects. One of the most anticipated Marvel Studios 2022 releases is Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, the long-awaited sequel to 2018's Black Panther. Following the tragic loss of leading man, Chadwick Boseman, fans have been wondering how the Black Panther sequel will forge ahead without T'Challa, but Marvel has a plan and is already well into production on the film.
Returning for the sequel are original stars Lupita Nyong'o, Winston Duke, Danai Gurira and Letitia Wright. Black Panther 2 will also mark the debut of some new faces to the MCU who comic readers may be familiar with, such as Namor the Submariner, played by Tenoch Huerta, and Dominique Thorne's Riri Williams, who will soon get her own Disney+ series Ironheart.
The Black Panther sequel has already faced its fair share of challenges. However, hope is on the horizon for the film's 2022 release date.
When Will Black Panther 2 Release?
According to an article from The Hollywood Reporter, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever's recent production delay was extended due to several cast and crew members testing positive for COVID-19, including star Lupita Nyong'o. Production is now scheduled to resume in Atlanta next week for a further four weeks.
In promising news, insiders reportedly told the outlet that Black Panther 2's release date is not expected to be impacted by the restart of production, meaning it should still release in cinemas on November 11, 2022.
Black Panther 2 Dodges Delays
It's been a hectic few years for movie release dates amidst the pandemic and Marvel films have been no exception. The most recent set of delays saw Black Panther 2, along with five other Marvel films, have their release dates pushed back, which moved Ryan Coogler's sequel from July to November 2022.
Luckily, it seems this latest release date is holding strong, despite there being multiple challenges facing Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. The filmmakers have worked hard to change the story of the sequel after losing Boseman. Once filming began, there were further difficulties, including Letitia Wright's controversial vaccination status and injuries the actress received on-set, requiring her to return to her home of London to recover.
Black Panther 2 is just one of many films to be hit with problems due to a recent surge in COVID-19 cases worldwide, which has caused shooting to delay once again. Although, according to these reports, it seems this latest shutdown is short enough for the film to remain on track for its November release date.
Marvel's other 2022 releases, including Thor: Love and Thunder and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness have already completed shooting. With Black Panther 2 heading back into production next week, it hopefully signals another year of packed releases for Marvel.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is scheduled for release on November 11, 2022.
